1 “ Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.

“ Man, who is born of woman, Is short-lived and full of turmoil.

2 H e grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.

“ Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.

3 D o you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgment with you?

“You also open Your eyes on him And bring him into judgment with Yourself.

4 W ho can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.

“ Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one!

5 S eeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass;

“Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass.

6 L ook away from him, that he may rest, until he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.

“ Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest, Until he fulfills his day like a hired man.

7 “ For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.

“For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail.

8 T hough its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,

“Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil,

9 y et through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.

At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant.

10 B ut man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?

“But man dies and lies prostrate. Man expires, and where is he?

11 A s the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,

“ As water evaporates from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dried up,

12 s o man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.

So man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no longer, He will not awake nor be aroused out of his sleep.

13 “ Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret, until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

“Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, That You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, That You would set a limit for me and remember me!

14 I f a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my warfare would I wait, until my release should come.

“If a man dies, will he live again ? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes.

15 Y ou would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire to the work of your hands.

“You will call, and I will answer You; You will long for the work of Your hands.

16 B ut now you number my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?

“For now You number my steps, You do not observe my sin.

17 M y disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.

“My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You wrap up my iniquity.

18 “ But the mountain falling comes to nothing. The rock is removed out of its place;

“But the falling mountain crumbles away, And the rock moves from its place;

19 T he waters wear the stones. The torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.

Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy man’s hope.

20 Y ou forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.

“You forever overpower him and he departs; You change his appearance and send him away.

21 H is sons come to honor, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.

“His sons achieve honor, but he does not know it; Or they become insignificant, but he does not perceive it.

22 B ut his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”

“But his body pains him, And he mourns only for himself.”